Principal’s Message Week 9 Term 4 2019

2020 will be a very exciting year for us as we embark on our new strategic directions and

begin our journey with the International Baccalaureate. Staff have already begun planning

for 2020 and have enthusiastically embraced the new opportunities that this step has

afforded us. The opportunity to be recognised as an International Baccalaureate World

School, offering the Primary Years Programme, is the next step into firmly entrenching a

learning culture in our community that is inspiring, rigorous, relevant, purposeful and

engaging for all involved. It will assist in enabling our learners to step boldly into the future,

equipping them with the skills they will need to participate with confidence in a world that

continues to rapidly change. Ultimately this will enhance learning and teaching whilst

continuing the strong structured focus we have on numeracy and literacy in our school, thus

ensuring we are delivering a high-quality education for all well into the future.

The staffing for 2020 has now been finalised and the following is a summary of what will be

in place for the next year.

At the end of the year we will farewell Ewelina Podgorska. Since joining St Columba’s in 2018

Ewelina has been an integral member of our staff. She has been a wonderful asset to our

staff and leadership team during her time here. Her expertise in the early years, literacy and

professionalism has been exemplary. We are grateful for the wisdom, knowledge and

breadth of experience that she has brought to our school. She will be greatly missed by our

whole community - school and parish. We wish Ewelina all the best in the future and as she

embarks on a new chapter in her life.

There have been some changes to our staffing and leadership roles for 2020 and I would like

to welcome to our school community two new staff members: Miss Lauren Doran, Miss

Gemma Canalini.

I am very excited about the new staff joining the school next year. I know you, our

community, will make them feel very welcome.

2020 Teaching Staff

Principal: Daniella Maddalena

Deputy Principal- Student Wellbeing & Student Services: Bern Bradley

RE, Innovation & Learning, ICT, NCCD & Intervention Leader: Natalie Cromie

PYP Leader: Brooke Dobric

P-6 Literacy Leader: Brooke Dobric

Maths P-6 Leader: Stuart Mill

Sustainability Leader: Stephanie Young

Classroom Teachers

Prep Sophie Champion

Prep Stephanie Young

Grade 1/2 Gemma Canalini

Grade 1/2 Lauren Doran

Grade 1/2 Angela Saliba & Carla Howard (3rd teacher role)

Grade 3/4 Liane Pimenta

Grade 3/4 Rachael Bulcock

Grade 5/6 Stuart Andreou-Mill

Grade 5/6 Tara Wilkes

Visual Art & Kitchen Garden Bec Long

Languages (Mandarin) Sarah Huang

Physical Education & PMP Sharelle Braithwaite

There will be extra support for all classes in Literacy and Maths Prep- Year 6, with a

Differentiation Support Teacher working within each year level. This will allow smaller

groupings during these times for explicit instruction and will also provide the opportunity for

greater personalisation and differentiation of the curriculum.

Kath Davies will work as Differentiation Support Teacher providing Numeracy support to

Prep – Year 6.

Bern Bradley, Natalie Cromie and Brooke Dobric will also work as Differentiation Support

Teachers across Prep- Year 6.

Learning Support Officers (Aides)

Norma Pullen, Suzie Hansen, Lorraine Everitt, Freda Minas, Julie Watson, Andy Szkibik, , Justine Seymour, Laura Harris, Kylie Marshall

We are very excited to continue to provide regular music classes throughout each term with

Chris Lazzaro. These sessions will focus on music making and creating and will occur

fortnightly in terms 1, 2 & 4, term 3 will be dedicated to the Community Arts Program. In

2020 the children can pursue instrumental music lessons with Creative Music and all

children will of course participate in our Community Arts program during term 3.

The children will find out their classroom teacher on Thursday 12 th December when they

have a ‘Step Up Day’ orientation session, with their new teacher and class from 9:00-

11:00am.

I am extremely excited about 2020 and our new Strategic Directions, ‘St Columba’s – a

school for the future’. We have already ensured our Annual Action Plan reflects these new

directions. As the new year starts, we invite you to share in our journey by attending the

planned information sessions, open learning days and other learning experiences that will

provide you with the opportunity to participate and immerse yourselves in this new chapter

in the life of our school.

Class Lists for 2020

One of the big tasks we undertake at this time of year is the placement of children in classes

for next year. It may look like a simple task, however, in reality it is quite challenging. It is

about ‘getting it right’ so all children can succeed in their learning and in a social setting.

Often these two factors can cause some conflict because the children who they prefer to

socialise with may not always be the best children to be in the class with.

In all situations, I advocate that children need to be risk takers and problem solvers and this

can be applied to the children they have in their class. Instead of looking at whether the

children will not be with some of their friends, I see it as an opportunity for the children to

meet many more friends.

There can be many valid reasons as to where a child is placed in a class. These reasons can

be educational or social. The staff have put in a lot of time placing all the children in their

classes for next year and I would ask that parents trust our professional judgment.

Sport News

Murray Marathon

Melbourne United are coming to St Columba's